Title: Better Times
Rating: PG
Fandom: Crossover: Dr. Seuss' the Lorax & Tangled
Characters: Dr. Seuss' the Lorax: Once-ler, the Lorax ; Tangled: Rapunzel, Pascal
Pairing: Rapunzeler (Once-ler/Rapunzel)
Summary: Because then the world wouldn't be so dark and the trees wouldn't be in danger like a dying breed they're now slowly becoming and the lake wouldn't be polluted and… and… and…
Word Count: 340
Author's Note: This crossover!drabble is written for a friend of mine because she wanted to see some Rapunzeler. I might write some more for these two later [that ends on a somewhat happier note] because even I have to admit that this crossover!pairing is cute.
Warnings: None.
Disclaimer: Dr. Seuss' the Lorax & Tangled do not belong to me in any shape or form (including characters). Thank you.

She sees the changes in him.

And it makes her heart ache.

How could he do this… this… this unforgivable and despicable act of treachery?

He…

He made a promise.

And not just to the Lorax did he make the promise to.

But he promised her, too.

She recalls the day that they first met and it makes her heart ache even more with longing and loss.

It was an accident, of course, but she's glad that he ended up stumbling across the tower. Sure, she felt guilty afterwards when she whacked him with her trusty frying pan a few times, but when they talked she could see how sincere he was.

… Where had that sincere boy gone to?

What happened to him?

Why did he change?

How could he—?

Something small, orange, and furry touches her left arm and snaps her out of her thoughts. When she turns her bright, glassy green eyes on him, the Lorax gives her arm a soft and gentle pat. It's only a matter of time before this magical land is completely lost and they both know it despite how hard they tried to make him see.

Pascal lays his head on her knee and stares at her sadly because he knows how upset she is. He's been her only companion for so long and he knows her better than anyone else. And therefore he knows how she feels for the once sweet and kindhearted boy that they first met.

Rapunzel turns her gaze back up to the cloudy sky and prays that they'll disburse so she can catch sight of a shooting star.

She needs to make this wish and she needs it to come true.

She wishes for the better days back.

Because then the world wouldn't be so dark and the trees wouldn't be in danger like a dying breed they're now slowly becoming and the lake wouldn't be polluted and…

And… and… she wants that sweet, gentle boy she fell in love with to come back to her.